Tobacco leaf stemming and handling mechanism



Nov. 20, 1934.

R. E RUNDELL Erfm.

TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING AND HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet l NOV. 20, 1934. R, E RUNDELL Er AL 4 1,981,470

TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING AND HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 2s, 1932sl u s sheets-sheet 2 ooooo oooo oooNo {ooooloNo oooo o FIG. 3

72 7/ 6'9" /JJ fan/a Je Nov. 20, 1934. R. E, RUNDELL ET AL 1,981,470

TOBGCO LEAF STEMMING AND HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 25, 1935 5 sheets-@sheet 3 @N mwN @s Nov. 20, 1934- R. E. RUNDELL ET Al. 1,981,470

' TOBACCO LEAF STEMMIG AND HANDLING MECHANISM Filed June 23, 1953 5 sheets-shewu 4 NGN MQQN TORN Y Nov. 20, 1934. R. E. RUNDELI. ET AL TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING AND HANDLING MCHANISM 5 Sheets-sheet 5 Filed June 23, 1935 mwN Patented Nov. 20, -1934 PATENT OFFICE TOBACCO LEAF STEMMING AND HANDLING MECHANISM n Rupert E. Rundell, Rockville Center, and Gustaf E. Hagquist, Brooklyn, N.

Y., assignors to International Cigar Machinery Company, a corporation of New Jersey Application June 23, 1933, Serial No. 677,336

60 Claims.

This invention relates to tobacco leaf stemming and handling mechanisms and is designed to make possible improved stemming not only of tobaccos now stemmed by machine but to make commercially possible the stemming by machine of tobaccos such as cigar filler tobacco which are at present stemmed by hand. The present mechanism embodies in part improvements on our Leaf stemming machine disclosed in U. S. Letters Patent 1,864,765 and in our application Serial #613,318, filed May 24, 1932, entitled Leaf opener for filler stripper-machines.

Oneof the principal objects of the present invention is to improve the quality of the strip by producing cleaner stems with fewer breaks in the edge of the web pulled from and by producing a strippng'of the web portion from thestem approximating that produced by hand.

Another object is to provide for assembling of the stripped web portions of the leaves in side by side and if desired, overlapping relationship for convenient handling and removal. Another object of the invention is to improve the transfer of the leaves from butt foremost feeding for opening purposes to tip foremost feeding for stemming purposes and to this end a suction transfer is provided in lieu of the mechanical transfer disclosed in the above cited application.

It is also an object of the invention to improve the stemming unit by so designing the same as to provide a clear fairway or space to receive the vleaves fed thereto; to provide a tear facilitating element coacting with the stem and web pulling elements to facilitate and produce smoother tearing of web from stem; and to provide for more secure gripping of the stem by the stem pulling means and more secure engagement of the web by the web pulling means.

In connection with the leaf opener or spreading structure it is a purpose of the inventionto provide against the leaf tips being pulled from one side to the other by the pneumatic leaf spreader by cutting off the suction when a tip passes by; also to provide Vfor any more positive i grip on the stem during the spreading operation and subsequent conveying by a carded belt construction and by chain conveyors designed to pro'- vide a rough surface and admit maximum air flow through the same.

Still another `object is, after spreading of the leaf to maintain more positively and effectively, the outspread condition of the leaf during subsequent conveying and transferring, and to this end suction conveyors acting on the outspread leaf portions as they are carried to the stemming unit are provided. It is also an object of the invention to obtain a more certain and quicker transfer of leaves or webs from one conveyor to another with less opportunity for the leavesy to curl or close up during transfer and for this purpose pneumatic means have been ldevised for blowing the leaf from one conveyor and at the same time sucking it onto another. With these and other objects not specically'mentioned in view, the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations which will be hereinafter fully described and then particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

InA the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which like charetv acters of reference indicate the same or like parts,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation ofthe improved leaf handling mechanism and tobacco stemming machine; Fig. 2 is a detail sectional elevation o'n the line 2 2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top view of the leaf handling mechanism as seen from lines 3-3 in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an end elevation partly in section seen from line 4--4 of Fig. l, showing the arrangement of the stem stripping mechanism; Fig. 5 isa side elevation on line 5-5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a detail end elevation with parts broken away and omitted, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 7 is a side elevation on line 7-7 of Fig. 6; Figs. 8 to 1.1 are diagrammatic side elevations showing the operation of the stem stripping mechanism; Figs. 12 to 14 are similar elevations showing construction and operation of a modification of the stripping unit; and Figs. 15 and 16 are end and sectional side views respectively of a detail.

In carrying the invention into effect there is provided in combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, mechanism for receiving outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, instrumentalities for transferring the outspread 'webs from said devices to said mechanism while maintaining the leaves outspread and means for receiving the webs from said mechanism and laying them flat in side by side relationship. Preferably a machine in accordance with the invention includes leaf transfer instrumentalitiesincluding facing suction conveyors and means controlling the suction on said conveyors to transferleaves from one conveyor to the other. Preferably the stemming mechanismincludes devices for tearing the web from the stem and moving means having a rounded surface located between the stemand web in position to contact the web near. the tearing point to facilitate tearing. 4 In the best con- 2 Lanaro struction contemplated, the stemming mechas nism includes web pulling means, stem pulling means and mechanism for intermittently providing a space between the web and stem pulling means to receive the leaf and also to provide free space for the tearing operation and to avoid injury to web and cross veins of the leaf. In the best constructions also the web receiving means includes a conveyor for transporting the stemmed webs having mechanism for causing the webs to adhere to its under side and devices for rendering saidv mechanism inoperative to deposit the leaves. The various means referred to may be varied widely in 'construction within the scope of the claims, for the particular device selected to illustrate the invention is but one of many possible. concrete embodiments of the same. The invention therefore is not to be restricted to the precise details shown and described.

Leaf feeding and opening Referring to Figs. 1 and 3, the unstemmed tobacco leaves, which are usually in a more or less curled up state and are often twisted and ropy, are laid by the operator upon the moving belts 12 on table 13, the stem endof each being placed in one of theopenings 14 on the spacer chain 15 which travelsat the same speed as the belts l2.

The belts 12 and chain 15 are driven by a bevel gear 16 on shaft 17 meshing with a bevel pinion 1 8 on a shaft 19 carrying a sprocket 20 driven by a chain 21 from a sprocket 22 on a shaft 23. The latter shaft receives motion by igears 24 and`25 from a shaft 26 actuated by a chain 27 from a sprocket 28 on shaft 29,on which are mounted the sprockets 30 of leaf conveyor chains 3.1. The shaft 29-is driven by a sprocket 32l connected by achain'33 with a sprocket 34 on a shaft 35 which has a sprocket driven by a chain 37 from a sprocket 38 carried by the shaft of motor 39. The spacer chain 15 transmits motion to shaft 40 on which the counter pulleys of the endless belts 12 are mounted.

lIhe endless gripper chains 31 for carrying theleaves to and beyond the spreading devices run. over sprockets 41 on shaft 42 and are kept in the proper tension by tightener sprockets 43 carried by 'adjustable arms 44 mounted on frame 45.

The chains 31, at spaced intervals, carry between them a number of grippers 46 which are normally closed but are opened to receive and discharge the stem ends of the leaves by engaging with stationary lower and upper cam pieces 47 and 48 respectively, supported by frame 45.

The leaves, upon being carried by the belts 12 to the center of the space between the conveyor chains 31, are lifted out of the spacer chain openings 14 by a wedge shaped block 49 and each is in turn inserted into one of the grippers 46 which then is in engagement with the lower cam pieces 47. The leaf lifter 49 passes through an opening provided in table 13 and is attached to a rod 50 actuated by a cam on shaft 26.

The grippers' 46 carry the leaves into the unit 5l for spreading out or opening the leaves, which is generally similar to that disclosed in the above mentioned application, in which they pass between the faces of pairs of revolving corrugated coaxial wheels 52 aligned in the direction of thel traveling leaf at both sides of the stem and exyposed to the suction of a pump lor exhaust fan connected to the leaf opener suction chambers by pipes 53 vso that air flows from stem to edge ofthe leaves. The leaves are guided into theunit 5 1 byanger54operatedbyacam on shaft 26, the said nger pushing the leaves against a horizontal roller 55 supported by brackets attached to leaf opener 51 on which roller they are centered by a pair of vertical rollers 56 swinging-on resiliently mounted arms 57 permitting 80' the grippers 46-to passbetweenthem.

On leaving the opener unit 51, the stem or central portion of the leaf is pressed by a roller 58 onto the pins of an endless carded belt 59 which holds the leaf in the center of the conveyor way 35 and prevents it from swinging to one side or the other while passing through laterally disposed suction chambers 60 communicating with pipes 53. Valves 61 'in these pipes automatically shut off the suction in chambers 60 the moment the 90 tip of the leaf emerges from under roller 58, thereby preventing any inequality of the suction on the two leaf halves from pulling of the leaf tip out of central position, the suction valves being reopened 'as soon as the leaf tip has left chambers 95 60. The valves 61 are actuated by means of a rod 62 attached to a lever 63 having a roller 64 held in engagement with a cam 65I on shaft 35 by a spring 66. The roller 58 is carried by a rod 255 attached to a shaft 256 supported in a bearing 257 of frame 45, the shaft 256 being turnable by a crank 258 which is tensioned by a spring 259 and actuated by a rod 260 connected to a lever 261 controlled by a cam on shaft 26.

Transferring opened leabes to stemming unit u between them. The valves 70 are connected by rods 71 and levers 72 to'a shaft 73`supported in bearings 74 and having a lever rl5 connected by 12o rods 76 and 77 with a lever 78 controlled by-a cam 79 on shaft 26, a roller on lever 78 being held on cam 79 by a spring 80. Thus, while the.

small chambers 68' connected to pipes 69' are continually yunder suction so as to hold the emerg- 1215 ing leaves to the belts 67 at any time, the suction inl the large chambers 68 supplied by pipes 69" is periodically discontinued to permit the discharge of the leavesfrom belts 67.. 1

For the purpose of positively ejecting the leaves there is provided in the main portion ofeach of the chambers 68 a pivoted vane or partition 81, Fig. l, which is normally held in its upper position by a spring 82. When the leaf has traveled rto the end of belts 67, the valves 70 are closed by cam 79 and the vanes 8l are quick- 135 ly depressed by means of fingers 83 actuated by rods 84 and 85 from a cam lever 86 controlled by a cam 87. This forces the air out of the chamber and ejects the leaf quickly and positively onto the suction conveyor below without allowing the outspread leaf to curl or close up.

are held by a roller 97 against the upper loop of an air permeable endless conveyor which may be a perforated endless belt, 98, Fig. 3 or a row of chains 131, Figs. 1 and 2, disposed below the belts 67 and traveling in the downward direction. As

soon as the roller 97, whichis normally in a raised retrograde position 97', as shown in dotted lines in 2, to permit the passage of the grippers and leaves, has been depressed, the gripper carrying the emerging leaf engages with the upper cam pieces 48 and is thereby opened so that the leaf, upon the raising of roller 97, is free to move on belt 98 or chains 131 to which it is held by suc-.- tion in chamber 99 supplied by a branch 100 of pipe 69', the valves 70 being so. arranged as to direct the suction shut off from chamber 68 into chamber 99, and vice versa. The roller thus serves to strip the butt end of the leaves from the grippers if it sticks therein and to press the leaf down onto the facing conveyor 98. A

The roller 97, Fig. 2, is mounted on a shaft 101 carried by two bell crank levers 102 and 103 pivoted on a bracket 104 attached to frame 45 and connected to one another by a link 105. The lever 103 has an additional arm 106 connected by a link 107 to a rod 108 pivoted to a slotted arm 109 mounted on a cross shaft 110 supported in bearings 111 on frame 45. To. shaft 110, Figs. 1 and 3, is attached a crank lever 112 held in tension by a spring 113 fastened to frame 45 and connected by a rod 114 to a bell crank lever 115 which is controlled by a rod4 116 attached to a lever 117 engaging with a cam on shaft 26.

'I'he belts 67 run over rollers on shafts 118 and 119, and the belt 98 is guided by rollers on shafts 120, 121, 122 and 123, the shaft 120 having a sprocket 124 driven by a chain 125 from a sprocket 126 on shaft 42, and a sprocket 127 driving, by a chain 128, a sprocket 129 on shaft 119. In Fig. 2, the roller on shaft 120 is replaced by a row of sprockets 130, each sprocket driving a chain 131.

Upon the perforated belt 98, spaced a small distance on each side of the longitudinalcenter line thereof and running with it are two narrow belts or chains 132, Figs. 1 and 3, which run off belt 98 and this forms a continuous but narrowed extension thereof, and passes vertically over rollers or sprockets 133 on a shaft 134, returning to belt 98, by way of guide rollers on a shaft 135.v

The two belts 132 may be' replaced by a single carded belt, as in Figs. 8 to 11, the pins of which more positively keep the leaf in its central position. When chains 131 are used in place of belt 98, as in Figs. 1 and 2, two of the' chains, instead of turning around shaft 122, are run over spreekets on shafts 134 and 135.

Between the rollers on shafts 121 and 122, there is a suction chamber 1364supplied by the pipes 69 in which the suction is continuous, thereby holding the vleaves at and outspread on belt 98, or on chains 131, as the latter turns around shaft 122.

In close proximity to the vertical portion of the superimposed beltsv or chains 132, there is provided an endless belt 137, Fig. 1, running over pulleys on shafts 138 and 139, the belts 137 and 132 taking the leaves from belt 98 or chains 131 between them and guiding them through vertically disposed leaf spreading suction chambers 140 which finally spread the leaves just as they pass into the stemming mechanism. The belt 137 is driven by a gear 141 on shaft 139 meshing with a gear 142 on shaft 134. The suction in chambers 140 is supplied by the pipes 53, the valves 61 in which turn the same on the two halves of the leaf as soon as its tip has entered contact with the suction cylinder 143 of. the stemming unit but not before, sinc'e otherwise the tip might be pulled to one side. The belt 137 may be carded, so that its pins penetrate the leaf and prevent it from being displaced laterally.

suction drum and cylinder 143 are mounted on' a shaft 147 supported on arms 148 carried by the main shaft 149 of the stemming unit journaled in bearings 150 mounted on frame 15-1. One of the arms 148 has a lateral extension 152 carrying a lroller 153 held in engagement with a cam 154 on a shaft 155 by a spring 156. Onshaft 149 are V also mounted double arms 157 carrying rollers 158 and 159 over which runs a belt 160 partly surrounding the circumference of suction cylinder 143 and running over a Aroller 161 on shaft 162 from which it returns over guide rollers 163 and 164, Fig. 1, the guide roller 163 being carried by arms 165 pivoted on the shaft of roller 164 and held in tension by the aforesaid spring 156.` The shaft .of roller 158, at its ends carries arms 166 in which is journaled the shaft 167 of a. rotary doctor brush 168 sweeping the leaf carrying portion of the surface of cylinder` 143 to prevent the tip of the web from following the cylinder around.

A sprocket 169 mounted on shaft 149 receives motion by a chain 170 from a sprocket on shaft 90, Fig. 1, this motion being transmitted by gears 171 and 172 to shaft 147. The gear 172 meshes withan intermediate gear 173 .carried by an adjustable arm 174 swinging on shaft 167 and therethrough drives a gear 175 onshaft 167. Another gear 176 on shaft 149 meshes with a double gear 177 running loosely on shaft 155 and driving the meshing planetary gears 178 and 179, the latter of which, in turn, meshes with a gear 180 driving the cam shaft 155. The planet gears 178 and 179 are mounted on studs carried by a sleeve 181 onA shaft 155, this sleeve being turnable by means of an arm 182 actuated by a rod 183 terminating near table 13 in convenient reachof the operator, thereby enabling adjustment of the timing of cam shaft 155 in accordance with-the length of the leaves handled by the machine.

The stem gripping and leaf stripping mechanisms are mounted on xa shaft 184 driven by a gear 185, through an intermediate gear 186 carried by anv adjustable arm 187, mounted on a slidable stud 188 from the gear 171 on main shaft 149. The gripper drum 145 isv provided with circumferential grooves 189 and near its'surface has axial plungers 190 with pins 191 projecting into radial slots of drum 145 the ns 189a formed by the grooves and the adjacent pins forming sets of grippers. .The plungers 190, Fig. 6, are pressed by springs 192 against the surface of a stationary j cam 193 attached'to bearing 194 of shaft 184. The forked brackets 195 and 196 carrying the stripping rollers 146 are loose on shaft 184 and are controlled by an arm 197 of bracket 195 which is connected by a vertical rod 198 to a bell crank 1.1.

lever 199 pivoted on a shaft 200, a horizontal rod 201 connecting the lever 199 with a double lever 202 pivoting on a stud attached to frame member 203, the lever 202 having a roller 204' held in engagement with a cam 205 on shaft 155'by a spring The leaf L, Fig. 8, delivered by the belts 132 and 137 onto the surface of cylinder 143, is carried by the rotation of the cylinder into contact with the surface of the oppositely revolving drum 145. Onthis, its stem S enters one of the circumferential grooves 189 and is gripped by pins 191 of successive plungers 190, these pins pressing the stem sideways against the nearest groove partition by the action of cam 193 as soon as a thick enough portion of it arrives at the contact position. Upon thus being gripped, the stem S is taken along by drinn 145, and is thereby carried to one side of one of the stemming rods 146 while the leaf portion L held by the suction on cylinder 143, passes on the other side thus pulling the web in one direction while the stem is pulled over rod 146 in the other direction to tear one from the other.

As soon as a sufficient length of stem has entered the groove of drum 145' to be securely held therein, the roller 153 engages a depression of cam 154, thereby causing the arms 148 and 157 to move into the positions shown in Fig. 9, thus opening a space between cylinder 143 and drum145, permitting the rollers 146 to be turned on shaft 184 by lever 202 which is actuated by cam 205 turning in unison with cam 154 on shaft 155. The action of the revolving roller 146 engaging the web pulled over said roller on the web near the tearing position causes the latter to be neatly stripped by being rolled off the stem S.

When arrived in the position shown in Fig. 10, in which the trailing roller 146' is in the place formerly occupied by the leading roller 146, the lroller 153 leaves the depression of cam 154, resulting in -a return motion of arms 148 and 157 which brings cylinder 143 back against drum 145. 'Ihe stem S now continues to be stripped by being pulled over roller 146 by drum 145 while the leaf L is carried around cylinder 143 from which it is discharged upon the belt 160 by the brush 168.

A star wheel 216 ejects the stems by entering between the pins of the gripper drum and brushing out adhering stems, and is driven by a chain' 217 from shaft 139 similarly discharging the stripped stems S upon their release from the` gripping pins 191 effected by the return motion of plungers 190 due to the springs 192. "I'he shaft of star wheel 216 by means of a chain 218 drives the belt 59 which guides the leaves through suction chamber 60.

In case of a broken stem, the pull exerted by drum 145, of course has lno effect upon the stem portion beyond the break, and the latter portion S', Fig. 11, will therefore follow the leif L to the cylinder 143. As soon as it comes thereon to the contact position with 'drum 145, it will enter one of the grooves thereof and will be gripped by the plunger pins in that groove, thereby pulling it off the leaf and carrying it around the trailing roller 1 46 which will then continuethe stripping action. f

-After each cycle of the machine, corresponding to the stripping of one leaf, the roller 153 engages a second depression on cam 154 and thereby produces another retrograde motion of cylinder 143, during which the cam 205 causes the lever 202 to move the rollers 146 back to their original position. One of the arms 148 has an axially projecting lug carrying an adjustable screw 148' which engages with an extension 150 ,of bearing 150, thereby lpositively stopping the motion of arms 148 and 157 before cylinder 143v actually contacts with drum 145. J

To prevent the stem S from riding onthe outer surface of top of the partitions or fins l89a between the grooves 189, and thus to remain out of range of the gripping pins 191, a fluted roller cylinder 143 and drum 145, this roller being caused to reciprocate axially by approximately.

the width of one groove of drum 145. A plate 220 carrying bearings for roller 219 is attached to a shaft 221 supported in brackets 222 and 222' fastened to a crossbar 223 ,of the frame. The shaft 221 is affixed to a connecting rod 224 actuated by an eccentric pin 225 at the .end of `a vertical shaft 226 supported by bearings 227 on frame member 228. 'Ihe shaft 226 is driven through spiral gears 229 from the high speed driven shaft 209.

In Figs. 12 to 14, a modification of the stripping unit is shown. Here, the cylinder 143 and drum 145 are mounted and driven exactly as before, butl the cams' 154 and 205 are replaced by cams 154' and 205' producing different motions of cylinder 143 and stripping roller 146. Only one roller 146 is used in this case, carried by double arms 197' and held in tension against cylinder 143 by a spring 206', the cam 205' now being used only to take up the pressure of this spring Whenthe cylinder 143 is in its far position. The latter position is produced by a depression on cam 154' in order to clear the way for a free entrance of the tip of leaf L. In'this pos'ition, Y

as described above. When in this position, thel cam 205'. is out of engagement with lever 202 so that now the roll'er 146 is held againstthe leaf on cylinder 143 by the spring4 206. The action of the stripper roller, which is revolved .ata peripheral speed equal to that ofthe suction cylinder and leaf, produces an improved stripping action resulting in clean stems with practicallyA no waste of the web portion of the leaf, the web generally coming out with a smooth stripped edge having left on it some of the skin of the stem as in good hand stripping. After a suillcient number of grippers have taken hold .of

stem S, the cylinder 143 is moved a small-disnv tance away from drum 145 by the cam 154' intov the position shown in Fig. 14, to prevent the cross veins, which, like the stem, increase in thickness towards the butt end of the leaf, from being engaged by the grippers of drum 145 with consequent damage to the leaf. When moved into this position, the roller 146 follows the cylinder 143, being held thereagainst by the spring 206150 during the entire stripping period. After a time set for the maximum length of leaf to be stripped, the cam 205' raises the roller 146 oi the cylinder 143, and the cam 154 moves cylinder 143 away from drum 145 to permit the next leaf to enter between them.I

stemmed leaf delivery The stripped leaves carried from the stripping unit by the belt 160 are sucked to the under loop of a perforated belt 230, Figsjl and 3, by a chamber 231 which forms a portion of a suction chamber 231 encircled by belt 230, the chamber 231' receiving continual suction from a pipe 232 connected to one of the supply pipes 69. The belt 230 is driven'from shaft 162 by gears 233, The pipe 232 also supplies chamber 231 but near the latter has a valve 234 for shutting olf the suction, and a valve 235 foradmitting air to chamber 231 to lrelieve the suction therein. Within the chamber, the bottom of which has longitudinal slots 236 registering with the perforations in belt 230, a plate 237 is 'suspended by arms 238 affixed to shafts 239 turning in bearings provided in the side walls of chamber 231. The shafts 239 have cranks 240 connected by a rod 241, one of the shafts, 239', having a crank 242 connected by a rod 243 with a lever 244 having a roller 245 held in engagement with a cam on shaft 88 by a spring 246. On shaft 239 is also mounted a crank 247 connected by a rod 248 with a lever 249 operating the valve 234, and a crank 250 connected by a rod 251 to valve 235.

When a leaf hasreached the end of chamber 231, the cam controlled lever 244 turns the cranks on shafts 239', thereby replacing the suction in chamber 231 by air pressure, and causing the plate or partition 237 to be depressed into the dotted position shown in Fig. l, forcing air on the slots 236 to blow down and positively eject the leaf. By this action, theA leaf is discharged from belt 230 and drops onto a belt 252, running at right angles to belt 230, which carries the stripped leaves away from the machine in flat side by si'de relation suitable for stacking in layers. 'I'he belt 252 is driven by worm gearing from a shaft 253 driven by a belt 254 from shaft 90, and as illustrated is driven so slowly that the leaves are overlapped.

The stemming roll or rod 146 has a tendency to accumulate gummy material from the tobacco which builds up until operation is interfered with. For the purpose of keeping this rod clean, applicants as shown in Figsjul5 and 16, have provided means for supplying moisture to the operating surface of the rod.- This means whileit may otherwise be constructed, as shown, consists of a water receptacle 256 supported from the frame of the machine by a bracket 257 and connected by a hose 255 to the end of the stemming rod which is bored topass the liquid through perforations 261 in the leaf contacting portion of the rod. A'

suitable liquidtight rotation permitting connection is provided between the hose and the rod consisting of a stationary .hose connection 258, and suitable packing means 259 between the hose connection 258 and a flange on the rotating stemming rod. A nut 260 loosely engaged with the flange of the stemming rod serves to draw the stemming rod against the packing just enough to prevent leakage, the nut being threaded on the connection 258.

Operation In the operation of this machine, already described to some extent in connection with the several units involved, itis noted that it has been found important to hold stem and tip portionsy of the leaf in central position during the opening operation since it has been found diiiicult to so balance the suction that the pull on both sides of the leaf is equal. This requirement has been taken care of by providing the carded belt 39 which positively engages the stem during the opening operation. To avoid pulling the tip to one side or the other as already noted, the s'uction in the leaf opening chamber is cut off at the time the tip passes through. Failure to open the tip is of no great importance because the stem is not removed from the tip portion of the leaf, only that portion of the stem being removed of a size to be engaged by the gripper of the stemming device. l

The leaf after opening is maintained in open position by means of the suction conveyors 67. This is important for the'reason that the leaves tend to wrinkle and curl again if released for any appreciable period of time.` While it is necessary to cease mechanical contact with the leaf for this purpose for an instant during the transfer of the outspread leaves from the conveyor 67 to the conveyor 98, the distance between these conveyors is so short and the leaf being still subject to the transferring air pressure produced by the parti-4 tion 81, there is no opportunity for the leaf to curl or wrinkleup to a harmful extent.

After the leaf has been transferred to the stemming unit by the belts 132 and 137, the tip ofthe leaf passes between the stem gripping rotary element 145 and the web pulling roll 143. At this' time, the element 145 is so constructed and operated as to provide a space between the saidelement and the roll 143' such that there is no danger of thergrippers catching or acting on the small part of the stem or the w'eb or cross veins` thereof which it is desired to retain in the stripped web, This also facilitates the following of the suction roll by the web until securely gripped by the belt 160. The element 145 through the operating mechanism already described is caused to close in this space sothat the grippers may engage the stem portion of the leaf, this operation being timed to occur when the stem reaches a size such that it is desired to remove it from the leaf.v

roll 143. Providing this space has been found to improve the stripping operation by allowing the tearing point or point of separation between the stem and leaf to take this natural position and to provide some leeway in case of crooked stems or stems which are longer than the webs by reason of ltheir crookedness and like irregularities. This also provides against any injury to the cross veins of the web or breakage of the stem by further action of the gripping prongs after a secure grip on the stem has been once obtained, and also makes for better coaction of the web portion of the web with the stripping rod 146.

After being stemmedthe leaf passes on to the belt 160 and thence on the under side of the delivery conveyor 230. The leaf is positively discharged from this conveyor by downward movement of the partition 2 37 after the suction in the removed, of mechanism for receiving thea outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities for transferring the outspread leaves from said devices to .said mechanism, and means for receiving the webs from said mechanism and laying them iiat inside by side relationship.

2. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be y removed, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities for transferring the outspread leaves from said devices to said mechanism, said devices including pneumatic devices acting to spread the leaves from the stem toward the edges, means for feeding the leaves butt first into the range of action of said devices, and means for rendering said devices inoperative as the tip of the leaf passes into their range to prevent the tip from being carried to one side.

3. Thecombination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, of mechanism for 'receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities for transferring the outspread leaves from said devices to said mechanism, said mechanism including devices for tearing the web from the stem, and moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web near the tearing point to facilitate tearing.

4. The combination with devices for spreading .out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities for transferring the outspread leaves from said devices to said mechanism, said mechanismincluding devices for tearing the web from the stem and a rotating rod located between the stem and web near the tearing position and in contact with the web to facilitate tearing.

5. The combination with devices for spreading out `tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities fortransferring the outspread leaves 4from said devices to said mechanism, said mechanism including web pulling means, stem pulling means and mechanism for intermittently providing a space between said web and stem pulling means to receive the leaf.

6. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, and instrumentalities for transferring the outspread leaves from said devices to said mechanism, said instrumentalities including facing suction conveyors, and means controlling the suction on said conveyors to transfer leaves from one conveyor to the other.

7. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed. of mechanism'for receivingrthe outspread leaves and separating their stems and.

webs, and instrumentalities forl transferringthe outspread leaves from said devices to said mechanism, and means for receiving the webs from said mechanism and laying them flat in side by'y range of action of said devices, said devices including means for intermittently providing a space between said devices to freely admit the leaves between them. 9. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with a web pulling device, of a stem pulling device for tearing the stem from the web,

of means for successively feeding leaves into the range of action of said devices, said devices including means for intermittently providing a space between said devices to freely admit the leaves between them, said devices comprising rotating cylindrical members having their circumferences moving in diverging paths and including means engaging the web and stem respectively to cause them to follow said diverging paths.

10. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with a web pulling device, of a stem pulling device for tearing` the stem from the web, of means for successively feeding leaves into the range of action of said devices, said devices including means for intermittently providing a space between said devices to freely admit the cluding means for intermittently providing a space between said devices to freely admit the leaves between them, and means providing between said stem and web a rounded surface traveling in the direction of web movement and contacting said web near the tearing point to produce smooth tearing.

12. Tobacco leaf stemming means comprising rotating members having circular portions moving in diverging paths and means for securing the stem of theleaf to one and the web of the leaf to the other of said portions `to tear the web from the stem, and mechanism providing a rounded surface traveling in the direction of web movement and bearing against the, web .near the tearing point to produce smooth tearing.

`13. Tobacco leaf stemming means comprising rotating members having circular portions moving in diverging paths and means for securing the stem of the leaf to one and the web of the leaf to the other of said portions to tear the web from the stem, mechanism providing a rounded surface traveling in the direction of web movement and bearing againstthe web near the tearing point to produce smooth tearing, and means for yieldingly pressing said surface against the combination with mechanism for tearing the stems and webs of the leaves apart, of devices for forwarding leaves into operative engagement with said mechanism, and moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web to facilitate tearing. I 15. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for pulling the stems andwebs of the leaves in different directions to tear one from the other, of moving means separate from said mechanism having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web to facilitate tearing and, mechanism coacting with said means to give said surface a movement in the A direction of movement of the web.

16. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for pulling the stems and webs of the leaves in different directions to tear them apart, of moving means in addition to said mechanism having a rounded surface located between the stern and web in position to contact the web to facilitate tearing, said means including an element having a cylindrical surface and means for giving said surface a movement in the same direction and at approximately the same speed as that of the web. 17. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for pulling the stems and webs of the leaves apart, moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web to facilitate smooth parting of the webs from the stems, said means comprising a rotating rod.

18. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for tearing the stems and webs of the leaves apart, of moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web to facilitate tearing, said means comprising a rotating rod and devices for feeding a liquid to the operating surface of said rod to prevent the adhesion of gummy tobacco residues on the same. 19. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for tearing the stems and webs of the leaves apart, of moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web 'to facilitate tearing, and means for keeping said surface clean.

20. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for pulling the stems in one direction, mechanism for pulling the webs of the leaves in another direction toJ tear the webs from the stems, moving means separate from said web pulling mechanism having a roundedsurface located between the stem and web in position to contact the web to facil- -itate tearing, and devices for periodically giving said meansa movement away from said web pulling mechanism to provide a fairway for the leaves into said mechanisms.

21. The combination with devices for spreading I out tobacco leaves from which the stems are to be removed, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and separating their stems and webs, said mechanism including moving means having a rounded surface located between the stem and web as the same are separated, and means for pulling ,the web over said surface whereby tearing of the web from the stem is facilitated.

22. I'he combination with means for feeding 75 outspread tobacco leaves, of mechanism for receiving the outspread leaves and pulling their stems and webs in different directions to tear one from the other, and means providing a traveling rounded surface adjacent the tearing point and in -contact with the web to facilitate the stemming operation.

23. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with mechanism for pulling the web of the leaf in one direct-ion, of means for pulling the stem in another direction to tear the stem from the web and a moving element located be-A tween the web and stem and separate from said web pulling means having a rounded surface moving in the direction of the web 'movement over and against which said web is pulled as it is torn from the stem.

24. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, of mechanism for receiving the outspread webs from said means and assembling said webs side by side.

25. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, of mechanism for receiving the outspread webs from said means and assembling said webs side by side, said mechanism including a suction conveyor arranged to carry the webs on its under side.

26. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, of mechanism for receiving the outspread Webs from said means and assembling said webs side by f side, said mechanism including arsuction conveyor arranged to carry the webs on its under no side, and mechanism for cutting off the suction on said conveyor to deposit the leaves.

27. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, vof 115 mechanism for receiving the outspread webs lfrom said means and assembling said webs side by side, said mechanism including a suction conveyor arranged to carry the webs on its under side, and means for cutting off the suction on said conveyor 120 and expelling air therefrom to ejectla leaf.

28. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, of mechanism for receiving the outspread 125 webs from said means and assembling said webs 'side by side, said mechanism including a conveyor arranged to carry the webs endwise, a conveyor traveling transversely of said endwise conveyor, and means for'causing transfer of leaves from 130 said endwise conveyor to said traveling conveyor.

29. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs while maintaining the webs in outspread condition, of mechanism for'receiving the outspread 135 webs from said means and assembling said webs side by side, said mechanism including mechanism for overlapping the leaves. n

30. The combination with means for separating the stems of tobacco leaves from the webs 14@ while maintaining the webs in outspread condi-` tion, of mechanism for receiving the outspread webs from said means and assembling said webs side by side, said mechanism including a suction chamber for supporting the webs by suction, a device for cutting off the suction to said chamber to deposit said Webs, and means opening the chamber to relieve suction therein to insure quick release of the web.

31. The combination with means for feeding 1;-L

tobacco leaves endwise, of mechanism coacting with said means to assemble the leaves side by side and in overlapping relationship.

32. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of mechanism for pulling the leaves by their butts through said devices, and means acting on the stem behind said pulling f mechanism for holding the stem in central position during the action of,l said devices.

33. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of mechanism for pulling the leaves by their butts through said devices,

and means acting on the stemv behind said pullingmechanism for holding the stem in central tobacco leaves from the stem toward the edges,

of mechanism for feeding tobacco lea-ves through said devices, and means for rendering said devices inoperative as the tip of the leaf passes l therethrough to prevent pulling of the leaf tip to one side. n

36. The combination with devices for spreading tobacco leaves from the stem toward the edges, of mechanism for feeding tobacco leaves through said devices, and means for rendering said devices inoperative as the tip of the leaf passes therethrough to prevent pulling of the leaf tip to one side, said devices including means for causing ow of air across the l'eaf and said means including mechanism for cutting off said ow.

37. In a tobacco leaf handling machine, the combination with a first conveyor, of a second conveyor facing the first conveyor, mechanism for transferring leaves from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said mechanism including devices for positively ejecting the leaf from said first conveyor.

38. In a tobacco leaf handling machine, the combination with a rst conveyor, of a second conveyor facing the f lrst, conveyor, mechanism for transferring leaves from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said mechanism including devices for positively ejecting the leaf from said first conveyor, said first conveyor being permeable to air, means for drawing air through said first conveyor to hold the leaf thereon, said mechanism comprising means forv reversing the direction of flow of air through said first conveyor.

39. In a tobacco leaf handling machine, the combination witha first conveyor, of a second conveyor facing the first conveyor, mechanism for transferring leaves from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said mechanism including devices for positively ejecting the leaf from said flrst conveyor, said first conveyor being permeable to air, means for drawing air through said first conveyor to hold the leaf thereon, said mechanism comprising means for reversing the direction of flow of air through said rst conveyor, and devices for simultaneously drawing air through the second conveyor to hold the ejected leaf against said second conveyor.

`40. In a tobacco leaf handling machine, the

combination with a first conveyor, of a second conveyor facing the first conveyor, mechanism for transferring leaves from the first conveyor to the second conveyor, said mechanism including devices for positively ejecting the leaf from said rst conveyor, said rst conveyor being permeable to air, means for drawing air through said first conveyor to hold the leaf thereon, said' mechanism comprising means for reversing the direction of flow of air through said first conveyor, said air drawing means including a suction chamber along which said first conveyor travels, said reversing means including a movable partition element in said suction chamber and mechanism for periodically moving said element to force air out of the chamber through said conveyor. 41'. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of travelling means acting on the central portion of the leaves to carry the leaves through and beyond said devices, and mechanism acting on the leaves to either side of said central portion for positively maintaining said leaves outspread as they are carried beyond said devices.

42. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of traveling means acting on the central portion of the leaves to carry the leaves through and beyond said devices, and mechanism acting on the leaves to either side of said central portion for positively maintain- -ing said leaves outspread as they are carried beyond said devices,.means including traveling grippers and said mechanism including parallel suction conveyors spaced Ato admit passage of the grippers between them.

43. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of traveling means acting on the central portion of the leaves to carry the leaves through and beyond said devices, and

mechanism acting on the leaves to either side of said central portion for positively maintaining said leaves outspread as they are carried beyond said devicessaid mechanism including endless members to either side of the path of said m traveling means for engaging theleaves.

44. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of traveling means acting on the central portion of the leaves to carry the leaves through and beyond said devices, and 125 mechanism acting on the leaves to either side of said central portion for positively maintaining said leaves outspread as they are carried beyond said devices, said mechanism including air chambers, endless members passing over said chambers, and means for drawing air. through said members and out of said chambers to hold the leaves outspread against said members.

45. The combination with devices for spreading out tobacco leaves, of traveling means acting on the central portion of the leaves to carry the leaves through and beyond said devices, and mechanism acting on the leaves to either side of said central portion for positively maintaining said leaves outspread as they are carried beyond said devices, said mechanism including endless members, means for drawing air through said members, and means for periodically reversing the direction of flow of air through said members to eject leaves therefrom.

46. A leaf transfer for leaf handling machines comprising facing suction conveyors traveling in different directions for forwarding leaves held thereon by suction, of means for applying suction to each of said conveyors, control means 150'..

acting on said suction applying means to cut the suction off the rst of said conveyors and at substantially the same time to apply it to the second conveyor, to transfer a leaf from the first to the second conveyor.

47. A leaf transfer for leaf handling machines comprising facing suction conveyors for forwarding leaves held thereon by suction, of means for applying suction to each of said conveyors, control means acting on said suction applying means to cut the suction off the first of said conveyors and at substantially the same time to apply it to the second conveyor, to transfer a leaf from the first to the second conveyor, and means coacting with said first conveyor positively to blow the leaf therefrom towards said second conveyor.

48. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with a series of sets of traveling gripping elements spread transversely of their direction of travel to grip stems despite transverse variations in the location thereof, of devices for feeding tobacco leaves with their stems in the range of action of said grippers, and transversely moving means for pushing said stems sidewise to cause them to locate between grippers and to prevent them from hanging up on the outer ends or surfaces of the gripping elements.

49. In a tobacco leaf stemming machine, the combination with a series of sets of traveling gripping elements spread transversely of their direction of travel to grip stems despite transverse variations in the location thereof, of devices for feeding tobacco leaves with their stems in the range of action of said grippers, and transversely moving means for pushing said stems sidewise to cause them to locate between grippers and to prevent them from hanging up on the-outer ends or surfaces of the gripping elements, said means including a reciprocating plate having a toothed portion for engaging the stems.

50. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with mechanism for seizing the stem of a leaf and pulling it in one direction, of a coacting mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, said mechanisms including means for providing one space between the mechanisms during the major portion of the stemming operation and a lesser space between them While said stem pulling mechanism is seizing 4the stem.

51. In a stemming machine for'tobacco leaves, the combination with mechanism for seizing the stern of a leaf and pulling it in one direction, of Ya coacting mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, said mechanisms including means for providing one space between the mechanisms during the major portion of the lstemmingoperation and a lesser space between them while said stem pulling mechanism is seizing the stem, said stem pulling mechanism including a rotor having a cylindrical leaf engaging portion and a series I of stem grippers on said portion.

52. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with mechanism for seizing the stem of a leaf and pulling it in one direction, of a coacting mechanism for pulling the web of said l' leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, said mechanisms including means for providing one space between the mechanisms during the major portion of the stemming operation and a lesser space between them while said stem pulling mechanism is seizing the stem, said web pulling mechanism comprising a cylindrical roll and means for applying suction to the surface of said roll to cause the web to adhere thereto.`

53. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with moving mechanism for seizing the stem and pulling it in one direction, of a moving mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web 'from the stem, said mechanisms each having opposed leaf engaging portions extending in the direction of their movement and between which the leaf passes, and said mechanisms including means for producing a separation of the leaf engaging portions ofA said mechanisms after the stem has been seized to allow greater freedom of the leaf during the separating operation.

54. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with moving mechanism for seizing the stem and pulling it in one direction, of a moving mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, said mechanisms each having opposed leaf engaging portions extending in the direction of their movement and between which the leaf passes, said mechanisms including means for producing a separation of the leaf engaging portions of said mechanisms after the stem has been seized to allow greater freedom of the leaf during the separating operation, arid means operating said mechanisms to produce movement of said leaf engaging portions in diverging arcuate paths.

55. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with moving mechanism for seizing the stem and pulling it in one direction, of a moving mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate theweb from the stem, said mechanisms each having opposed leaf engaging portions extending in the direction of their movement and between which the leaf passes, said mechanisms including means.

for producing a separation of the leaf engaging portions of said mechanisms after the stem has been seized to allow greater freedom of the leaf during the separating operation, and a moving element near the point of separation of stem and web having a rounded surface moving in the direction of said web and over which said web is pulled by said mechanism.

56. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with mechanism for seizing the stem of a leaf and pulling it in one direction, of a coacting mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, a leaf feed for feeding leaves successively endwise to and between said mechanisms, and means coacting with said mechanisms to provide one space between them while the stem is first being seized and a greater space at other times during the operation of the machine.

57. In a stemming machine for tobacco leaves, the combination with mechanism for seizing the stem of a leaf and pulling it in one direction, of a coacting mechanism for pulling the web of said leaf in another direction to separate the web from the stem, a leaf feed for feeding leaves successively endwise to and between said mechanisms, and means coacting with said mechanisms to provide one space between them while the stem is first being seized and a greater space at other times during the operation of the machine,

58. In a leaf stemming machine, means for separating the stems from the Webs of the leaves including a gang of laterally spaced grippers for gripping the stem despite lateral variations in' the position of the stem relative to the grippers, and devices operating the same to seize and subsequently release the stem, and means coacting AWith said grippers to positively eject any stems adhering to the grippers after release thereof, saidv ejecting means including a separately driven element having laterally spaced rigid projecting portions arranged to pass between said grippers.

59. The method of stemming tobacco leaves which consists in separating the stem from the web near the tip, and pulling the web and stem 4axis whereby the leaf may be stemmed by pulling the web across the side of the rod traveling in the direction of movement of the web while the stem is pulled across the other side of the rod.

RUPERT E. RUNDELL. GUSTAF E. HAGQUIST. 

